Blog - Curry Twist

The Algarve is the region along the southern coast of Portugal, the southernmost point in Europe, from where Portuguese explorers first sailed to Africa and then onwards to India. The sea dominates the landscape here, from the towering cliffs at Sagres, to the sun-baked sandy beaches of Albufeira.

Today tourists throng the beaches, soaking up the glorious sunshine. Between the gleaming new beach resorts you can still find ancient villages where local fishermen pull in the day's catch, just as they have done for centuries, and spread it onto nets to dry. Area restaurants make use of all the wonderful variety of seafood available. Sitting in the shade, sipping a cold glass of white wine and feasting on fish, while gazing out at the breathtaking scenery - what more can one ask for?

Fresh fish is prepared very
simply in Portugal so as not to hide its delicate, natural
flavour. We often ate it grilled with just a drizzle of olive oil, a
sprinkle of salt and pepper and sometimes a bit of chopped garlic and parsley. The
many varieties of freshly caught fish each had their own distinctive flavour too,
which could be savoured in every bite. We tasted salmon, sea bream, sea
bass, sardines, halibut and many other kinds of fish new to us.

One of our most memorable experiences was at a
restaurant called A Grelha, near the beach resort where we were staying. We were lured in by the savoury aroma wafting through its doors, but found it hard to know what to order since there seemed to be no menu. The only phrase we understood was "grilled fish" and sure enough, a cheerful man
bearing a laden tray stopped by and deposited a whole grilled fish, head and tail included, on our plates every few minutes. Wondering how much this was costing us, since we had not yet seen a menu, we stopped after 4 pieces each. Our waiter seemed most
disappointed and tried his best to entice us to eat more! It was only then we realised that this was an eat-all-you-can restaurant, where for a very reasonable price you could fill up on every variety of fish possible. To make him
(and us!) happy, we went back suitably hungry the next day and did justice to the food this time! Eat-all-you-can grilled fish is a concept more
restaurants need to introduce!

Goan cuisine too, reflects its coastal influence with its wide variety of seafood. Having been a Portuguese colony for over 400 years, typical Goan cuisine is a skilful blend of Portuguese and Indian ingredients, and is unusual, delicious and unforgettable!

My recipe for grilled fish, Goan style can be cooked on a barbecue in the summer and baked in the oven in the winter. It tastes great either way!

If you're nervous about flipping the fish, grill it skin side down, then transfer to a baking tray and broil in the oven till the top is lightly browned and cooked through. For variety, you can substitute jumbo shrimp in place of the fish, using the same marinade. If you'd like to prepare a complete Goan inspired meal, try serving Goan Paella and Chicken Samosas as well!

Smita's Spice Tins

Exquisite, hand-crafted and perfect for your kitchen. Our summer splash sale is now on for a limited time! Order yours here today!

Hi, I'm Smita. I am a cookbook author, food writer, recipe developer and cooking instructor, living in Toronto, Canada. I love to travel the world and explore new cuisines and flavours. My blog Curry Twist, is a chronicle of my food-travel adventures.

If you enjoy my travels, please be sure to leave me a comment on my blog or email me at smitachandra@me.com. Follow me on Twitter to see what I'm up to!